LOCAL SPORTS NEWS & EVENTS

"And he's … safe!" Shrewsbury - Marlborough High School's (MHS) Mike Bjorkman tries to apply the tag on Shrewsbury High School's (SHS) Steven DiReda as...

"Both of my parents have been very supportive of me. They have driven me to countless practices and come to every event. I have also had the same gymnastics coach growing up. He owned Diamond Gymnastics and has been with me ever since. He has pushed me and has helped me with not only the physical aspect of the sport, but also the emotional part."

Westborough – The opening day parade for Westborough Little League Baseball and Girl's Softball will be held Saturday, April 28. The festivities begin at...

Algonquin takes charge Northborough/Southborough - Algonquin Regional High School's (ARHS) Emily Polanowicz (center, with ball) drags Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School's (LS) Vicky Hogan (left) along...

Shrewsbury – Members of the Shrewsbury High School (SHS) baseball team have high expectations for their team entering the 2012 season. After rival St. John's High School ended SHS's 2011 season, and with the departure of all-star pitcher Josh Desai, the Colonials have a lot to prove.

Westborough - The 45 and Over Westborough Men's Softball League is preparing for another season. Any able-bodied or not-so-able-bodied man 45 or over and...

Algonquin explodes in the fourth Northborough/Southborough - Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) senior attack Conor Healey (#1, left) works his way around the defense of...

"My favorite NBA team is the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are a young team who are coming together right now, and they are learning how to win games. My favorite player is Kevin Durant. He's the youngest scoring champion, and he has an unbelievable work ethic. He's always out two hours before practice shooting, and he stays after practice shooting, so he is definitely a player to look up to."

Region - On April 4, the track at Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) in Northborough was home to the school's first-ever Unified Track and Field (UNIFY®) competition. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Special Olympics Project's UNIFY, which is, according to the Special Olympics website, an "education-based program that uses the sports and education initiatives of Special Olympics to activate youth to promote school communities where all young people are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities."

Road Scholars 5K celebrates five years Shrewsbury - Over 400 runners of all ages start the fifth annual Shrewsbury Scholars 5K and One-Mile Fun Run...

Sophomore Katie Priest placed fifth in the Division 1 state meet in two individual events, setting records in both. In the 200-meter freestyle, she broke a record that had stood for 12 years. In the 100-m backstroke, she broke her own record from last year.

Marlborough - For lifelong resident Becky Wainwright, the game of darts is not just something she plays casually in the basement. Wainwright is central area director of the Minute Man Dart League (MMDL) and president of the Route 20 Summer Dart League. She also runs a "Luck of the Draw" every Sunday night at the Lazy Dog on Main Street. For Wainwright, playing darts is a passion that began about 15 years ago.

Shrewsbury - Shrewsbury Parks & Recreation will be offering a youth baseball and T-ball clinic during April vacation. The baseball clinic is for grades...

Region - This month's health tip from the Massachusetts Medical Society, the statewide association of physicians, covers concussions. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury...

Westborough - Gymnastics can be one of the most deceptive sports. Athletes who are often tiny in stature tumble or perform amazing skills on apparatuses with what appears to be great ease. But behind every successful routine is an athlete who has worked hours at his or her craft to get to that level. Kylie Jones, a 15-year-old Westborough High School (WHS) sophomore, is just such an athlete. Kylie is not only one of the top competitors for the Westborough-based Mass. Gymnastics Center (MGC) Prep. Op. Level 7 team, she also competes for WHS. During the winter season, Kylie consistently placed well, including a first place all-around finish at the Kids Celebrate Life Classic at Algonquin Regional High School Jan. 7.

Northborough- On March 12, Juniper Hill Golf Course opened its doors, welcoming a significant number of jubilant golfers taking advantage of unseasonably high temperatures. "The course is in excellent condition," said Pro-Shop Assistant Jack Gallagher. "I have been here for 12 years, and it hasn's been this green. It has been terrific with the warm days, but not today - we'se only had two foursomes that are braving 36-degree temperatures [March 27] with pretty tough wind gusts. Hopefully it will warm up by the end of the week."

Shrewsbury - The Trinity College (Hartford, Conn.) Bantam soccer team, captained by Shrewsbury native Joe Buckley (center) advanced to its first New England...

By Ryan Massad, Contributing Writer Team: Hudson Hockey Captain Coach: Mike Nanartowich 2011/2012 Notable Stats: 13 goals, 11 assists What are some of your earliest hockey memories? "The earliest...

Westborough - Samantha Fowle (right), of Westborough, and her Ohio State University Buckeye teammate Emily Walsh (left), of Pittsburgh, Penn., participated in the Open...

"I'se been playing since I was 4 years old. My earliest memories are playing with my dad out in the driveway. We would play Horse and one-on-one, and it really helped me develop a passion for the game."